Integrated multidisciplinary treatment teams; a mental health model for outpatient settings in the military

To evaluate critically whether treatment models existed in the literature to treat a soldier with multiple psychiatric and other comorbidities and propose a mental health model consisting of an integrated multidisciplinary treatment team for use in military outpatient settings.

A case example was described to demonstrate the complexity of presentation including depression, anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, substance abuse, relationship problems, and suicide attempts. Literature search was conducted for the period 2004-2009. Articles that referred to collaborative/integrated care were examined in detail.

Seven articles described collaborative care. Of these, five described collaboration with only primary care and 2 with other specialties including pain, substance abuse, and vocational rehabilitation services. Most articles gave a broader description of the collaborative model. Some postulated a theoretical framework. One described collaborative care in detail but was coordinated by only one professional. None described integration of providers involved in the patient's care. The process of implementation was not sufficiently described.

Because of limitations in the published literature, a mental health model consisting of a multidisciplinary integrated treatment team is proposed to treat the soldiers in the military outpatient setting.